PLATE XIX, 



HERODIAS MEL A NOP US. 



SPOTLESS EGRET. Genus: Herodias. 



ri^HIS beautiful Heron known as the Spotless Egret from the snowy whiteness of its plumage, is very like 

 -L the Plumed Egret, though it is a much smaller bird, and lacks the aigrette plumes on the breast. It 

 enjoys a very extensive range over the whole of the coastal line of Australia, and is particularly abundant 

 about the Coburg Peninsula "both on the open sea-beach and in the secluded parts of the harbour; it also 

 occurs in all the neighbouring swamps and lakes." "On one occasion," says Gilbert, "while lying at anchor 

 in Van Diemen's Gulf, about half a mile from an isolated rock, covered with a stunted plant growing from 

 the crevices, I saw these birds repairing thither for the purpose of roosting in such numbers, that in a very 

 short time the dark-coloured rock assumed an appearance of snowy whiteness, resembling in the distance, 

 and particularly by moonlight, a pile of snow ; at the same time I observed them in different parts of the 

 harbour congregated in flocks, and when seen perched upon the branches overhanging the water, they greatly 

 resembled a flock of Cockatoos, but although they are met with in such numbers, it is by no means easy to 

 procure specimens, for a more shy and wary bird is scarcely to be found." 



The sexes are alike, both having (during summer) the long flowing plumes that are so beautiful. 



The plumage, pure snow-white ; hides, yellow ; upper mandible, half the lower mandible, and apical, 

 dark purplish-black ; base of the latter, dull yellowish-grey ; core and orbits, saffron-yellow ; legs, blackish- 

 grey ; inner side and back of the tarsi, and the under surface of the feet, siskin-green. [Gould.) 



Habitats : Derby (N.W.A.), Port Darwin and Port Essington, Gulf of Carpentaria, Cape York, 

 Rockingham Bay, Port Denison, Richmond and Clarence River District, New South Wales, Victoria and 

 South Australia, West and South- West Australia, South Coast of New Guinea. (Ramsey.) 



HERODIAS ASHA (Bonap.). 



SOMBRE EGRET. Genus: Herodias. 



IN the species before us we have another example of a rare bird. It is known to exist on the eastern 

 coast of Australia, one specimen having been captured near Port Stephens in 1843 and sent to Gould, 

 but as no note of its habits or economy accompanied the bird, he was unable to do more than describe 

 it as a fresh species. Later naturalists have not been more fortunate, which is the more singular, as its 

 slender and graceful form, together with its dark colouring, mark it out from all its confreres. 



The entire plumage is glossy-blue or slaty -black, with the exception of the chin, which is pure 

 white ; beak, horn-colour ; feet and legs, black and horn-colour ; irides, straw-yellow. 



Total length, 24 inches. 



Habitats : Wide Bay District, Richmond and Clarence River Districts, New South Wales. ( Ramsay.) 



